Final preparations are being made for what will surely be
Coventry's most spectacular ever New Year's Eve party.

Thirty thousand people are expected to crowd the city centre to be
entertained by a feast of acts for all the family including tribute
bands, clowns and world music.

The
main event will take place at 9.20pm when the world's TV cameras will
be joining the people of Coventry to watch the daring high-wire walk
by Ramon Kelvink.

This fifth generation tightrope walker will do what Charles Blondin
was refused permission to attempt over a century ago. He will walk the
80m between the spires of Holy Trinity and St Michaels, the old
cathedral.

The breathtaking feat will take place 45m above the ground and will
only be halted, Ramon assures us, by fierce storms.

The French skywalker did a test walk just after 5pm on Thursday,
and a steady drizzle caused him no problems.

Just in case anything does go wrong Ramon will be wearing a safety
harness. Though this is a precaution that the local council insisted
upon rather than one the Frenchman chose.

All city centre car parks will be free from 12noon. There will also
be a considerable number of bus routes operating special hourly or
half-hourly services until 3am.